Sierra Leone marks first National Day of Remembrance in honour of victims of civil war

Sierra Leone marked its first National Day of Remembrance on Sunday in honour of the victims of the country’s ten year civil war.

The conflict killed some 120,000 people and left thousands more injured or mutilated before officially ending on January 18th, 2002.

"For the first time in our history, we gather on a single day to remember our civil war and the heavy price our country paid for peace," President Julius Maada Bio said in an address to the nation.

"From this day forward, January 18th belongs to every Sierra Leonean. To every victim and every survivor, I cannot ask you to forget. I ask only that, in your own time and in your own way, our nation may find the grace to heal fully, restore dignity, and move forward together.”

The war is considered one of the most brutal in recent history. It began in 1991 when fighting spilled over from neighboring Liberia and rebel fighters clashed with Sierra Leone armed forces.

In 2002, a United Nations tribunal indicted 23 people for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other violations of international law, including former Liberian president Charles Taylor who was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

You may also like

Serbia: crowds celebrate in Belgrade after Vučić admits defeat

Brazil: long queues and river journeys mark decisive presidential vote

Thousands of sheep take over Madrid's streets for Transhumance Festival

From the same country

UN creates international day for elimination of child marriage

Sierra Leone drops treason charges against ex-president Koroma

Mangrove loss threatens Sierra Leone's oyster harvesters

01:00

Serbia: crowds celebrate in Belgrade after Vučić admits defeat

01:00

Brazil: long queues and river journeys mark decisive presidential vote

01:00

Thousands of sheep take over Madrid's streets for Transhumance Festival

00:57

UN creates international day for elimination of child marriage

00:59

Sierra Leone drops treason charges against ex-president Koroma

00:01

Mangrove loss threatens Sierra Leone's oyster harvesters

01:00

Serbia: crowds celebrate in Belgrade after Vučić admits defeat

01:00

Brazil: long queues and river journeys mark decisive presidential vote

01:00

Thousands of sheep take over Madrid's streets for Transhumance Festival

00:57

UN creates international day for elimination of child marriage

00:59

Sierra Leone drops treason charges against ex-president Koroma

00:01

Mangrove loss threatens Sierra Leone's oyster harvesters

NEWS 01:09 Ex-fighters in Ethiopia's Tigray region register for reintegration programme

NEWS 01:12 Ethiopia and Eritrea trade war accusations as regional conflict threatens to escalate

NEWS

01:00

Ethiopian drones strike Eritrean forces near Adigrat

NEWS

00:52

Ethiopian forces recapture Mekelle airport from Tigrayan fighters

NEWS

00:57

Loud explosions heard Yemeni capital amid reports of Saudi strikes

BUSINESS 01:12 Fuel shortage in Sudan drives up prices, burdening ordinary people

01:30

Nigeria

Nigeria's Tinubu defends policies as he launches re-election bid

01:13

Gabon

Gabon restores social media access after an eight-month ban

01:01 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport partially resumes flights after Houthi attacks